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Justin Gimelstob

A senior tennis official was today at the centre of a sexism row after insulting the world's top female tennis players.

The comments - which included describing some stars as "sexpots" while threatening violence to another - were in an interview given by Justin Gimelstob, a US tennis player who sits on the board of directors of the ATP, which controls the men's game.

The ATP is "appalled" by his remarks and Mr Gimelstob, 31, has been forced to apologise in an attempt to cling to his influential post.

Most of his vitriol, during an hour-long interview for US radio, was directed at Anna Kournikova, 27. Describing his relationship with the Russian star, with whom he trained as a junior, he said: "She's a bitch."

Asked if he hated her, he replied: "Hate's a very strong word. I just despise her to the maximum level just below hate." Mr Gimelstob, who is due to play Kournikova in an exhibition mixed doubles match in Washington next month, then said he wanted to hit her hard with the ball in the midriff when serving at her.

"If she's not crying by the time she walks off the court then I did not do my job," he added. Finally, asked if he would ever have an affair with Kournikova, he said: "Definitely not. I have no attraction to her because she's such a douche. I really have no interest in her... I wouldn't mind having my younger brother, who's a kind of a stud, nail her and then reap the benefits."

Mr Gimelstob then went on to take swipe at other women players. "Female tennis players lack the social skills, they don't go to high school, they don't go to parties," he said.

He said that while he did not fancy Kournikova - "she has a great body but her face is a five" - he was attracted to other players. He said of 21-ranked Tatiana Golovin that she was a "sexpot,"; of Nicole Vaidisova, who is ranked 22, "she's a well developed young lady"; and of the 17th ranked Alize Cornet "she's a little sexpot".

He said there were fewer lesbians now on the women's tour than 15 years ago, adding: "That's because they're all Russian chicks. And there's some other cute ones out there."

The comments caused such outrage that Mr Gimelstob was forced to apologise while promising to donate an "undisclosed sum" to the The Women's Sports Foundation. He said in a statement: "There is no excuse and I am extremely disappointed in myself. I take full responsibilthatity for all the words that came out of my mouth, and, while I can't take any of them back, I hope my heartfelt remorse can begin to heal the wounds felt by many.

"Among the targets of my venom was Anna Kournikova, not to mention a general disregard and disrespect toward women. They all deserve and have my deepest apologies. While I see how it could be implied by my remarks, I assure you I have the utmost respect for women." Mr Gimelstob was voted on to the ATP board to represent players' views, in a non-salaried position.

An ATP spokesman said he was not an employee, adding: "The ATP cannot condone any form of intolerance and Justin Gimelstob's comments last week were unacceptable. However, Justin has done the right thing in apologising publicly to Anna."